NYCHSFL AAA Quarterfinals Preview

<p>Class AAA of the NYCHSFL kicks off the playoffs this weekend, with an 8 team bracket. Catholic AAA, holds six teams, with Iona Prep, Monsignor Farrell, Archbishop Stepinac, Chaminade, St. Anthony's, and Cardinal Hayes all making the playoffs. The top two seeds, Iona Prep, and Monsignor Farrell earn first round bye's, leaving us with only two games this week, as all six teams, look to claim the NYCHSFL AAA Crown.</p>   <p><span style="font-size: revert;font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)">Prep Redzone's Winter Showcase is back for 2025 with more locations than ever. Looking to attend? Register </span><a style="font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)" href="https://prepredzone.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">here</a><span style="font-size: revert;font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)">. Save a few dollars off the cost of registration by using my special promo code, </span><strong style="font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)">LemerWinterPRZ</strong></p>   <p>Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> @<a href="https://x.com/PRZcory">PRZCory</a> for the latest New York high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Chaminade Vs 5. Archbishop Stepinac</h2>   <p>The Crusaders, finished 6-4 on the season, and greatly improved from a 1-10 finish last year. The Stepinac squad, claimed the 4th seed in the playoffs, and will rematch Chaminade, for a trip to play Monsignor Farrell. The Crusaders, opened the season with two good wins over Central Catholic, and Lincoln. After starting 2-0, DePaul Catholic (NJ) got the better of them, dropping them to 2-1. Chaminade faced the Crusaders next, and won in an OT thriller, moving them to 2-2. Four straight wins came for Archbishop Stepinac, against Catholic League opponents, leading them to 6-2. The Crusaders, lost their final two games to the top two seeds Iona Prep, and Monsignor Farrell. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crusaders To Watch</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jordyn-eaton/">2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1208805' first='Jordyn' last='Eaton']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/elias-murray/">2026 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1345061' first='Elias' last='Murray']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kamauri-guinyard/">2026 EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='819994' first='Ka'Mauri' last='Guinyard']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/grayer-hong/">2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1642284' first='Grayer' last='Hong']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jahmai-mcneil/">2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1364040' first='Jahmai' last='McNeil']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/john-smith-5/">2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1271411' first='John' last='Smith']</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">X-Factor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hong is one of two QB's the Crusaders rotate between. Only one player can go as an X-Factor, but both QB's deserve to be here. They are both X-Factors, as they both lead this Crusader offense, and have made impact plays. Hong played better the first time around against Chaminade, and if the Crusaders want to win the second time around, the 2027 QB will need a big time game in order to win. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key To The Game</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Consistency: In the first game against this Chaminade squad, the Crusaders made a number of mistakes that cost them the game. Consistency is key, and the Crusaders need to play smart which should lead to a Stepinac win. </li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chaminade Breakdown</h2>   <p>The Flyers, enter as the 5th seed, and finish the season at 6-4. The head to head win against Stepinac was the tie breaker in seeding for both teams. An opening season loss against La Salle Academy. The Flyers won three straight games, including two in OT, against Randolph Camous, and Archbishop Stepinac. Three loses came in the net four games including St.Peter's, Iona Prep, and St. Anthony's. To end the season the Flyers picked up wins against Cardinal Hayes, and Kellenberg Memorial, claiming the 4th seed in the playoffs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Flyers To Watch </h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/declan-miller/">2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='805814' first='Declan' last='Miller']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/anthony-trapani/">2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1513245' first='Anthony' last='Trapani']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/sean-carnevale/">2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='939944' first='Sean' last='Carnevale']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/michael-genovese/">2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1649146' first='Michael' last='Genovese']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/luca-smith/">2026 EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='606282' first='Luca' last='Smith']</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">X-Factor </h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Carnevale In the game against Archbishop Stepinac had himself a day. The Junior QB, started the season on my Watch List, and after watching that game, he 100% elevated himself. I like his poise in the pocket, and against a tough defense, he made good decisions, If the Flyers want to move on in the playoffs, a big game from Carnevale is needed. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key To The Game</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Run Game: In game one, the run game flourished with [player_tooltip player_id='1513245' first='Anthony' last='Trapani']. One key to winning this game is having another successful game on the ground.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">My Prediction </h2>   <p>I have my first upset of the playoffs. I thought Archbishop Stepinac should had won this game the first time around, and this time I see them winning, I see an OT win, with a 31-30 score at the end reflecting in an all time classic game. </p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. St. Anthony's Vs 6. Cardinal Hayes</h2>   <p>The Friars had an impressive season, also finishing 6-4, and claiming the #3 seed. The season started off with brutal competition, with McDonough, and Don Bosco Prep, picking up wins against the Friars. The first win came against University Prep, moving them to 1-2. The Friars then lost two of their next three, to Iona Prep, and Monsignor Farrell. moving them to 2-4 on the year. Four straight wins ended the season, and helped St. Anthony claim the #3 seed. This Friars squad is a serious contender, and they can make a legit run towards the title. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friars To Watch</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/anthony-diieso/">2028 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1630235' first='Anthony' last='Diieso']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/xavier-bala/">2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='425629' first='Xavier' last='Bala']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kevin-moore/">2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1208765' first='Kevin' last='Moore']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/bryce-ciancuielli/">2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='840987' first='Bryce' last='Ciancuielli']</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">X-Factor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The best RB in the Catholic League. Bala will have a major impact in this game. The passing offense for the Friars is elite, but having Bala on the ground, opens up multiple different play calls, and coverage beats the Friars can find. Bala had a good game his first time against the Cardinals, he had 102 yards and three touchdowns. Expect him to go off against Cardinal Hayes. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key To The Game</h2>   <p>Run The Ball: "RUN THE DANG BALL BERT" The quote from The Blindside resonates here, and it is true. With [player_tooltip player_id='425629' first='Xavier' last='Bala'] in the backfield, the key to winning this game, is running the ball behind the Friars star back. If they can do this successfully, they will win this game. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cardinal Hayes Breakdown</h2>   <p>The Cardinals, had a rough season, but still make the playoffs as the final seed. After a 1-7 season, the Cardinals, have a lot of work to do, and will look to salvage what was a rough season in the Catholic League. The season started off on a high, as Coach O'Neil and his squad, took down St. Joseph Collegiate from Buffalo, in the middle game of the Heroes bowl. After that game, Cardinal Hayes lost seven straight games, including five to AAA Catholic League Opponents. The year was not a total waste, and Hayes did show some fight in a few games, with close loses against Chaminade and St. Peter's. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cardinals To Watch</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kyle-mercorelli/">2027 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1649268' first='Kyle' last='Mercorelli']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ahmed-toure/">2026 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1364921' first='Ahmed' last='Toure']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ali-farhat/">2026 OL [player_tooltip player_id='402253' first='Ali' last='Farhat']</a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/eric-drobnak/">2027 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1853183' first='Eric' last='Drobnak']</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">X-Factor</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Mercorelli, transfered into Hudson Catholic with high expectations. The 2027 signal caller, battled injury this season, which has lead to the record we see when we look at Hayes from a distance. Hayes can win this game, and if they want to do so it will take a career game from their signal caller. Mercorelli is a solid QB, and I believe in him. Look out for him in Catholic League play next season. </p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key To The Game</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Offense: The Cardinal Hayes offense, has had issues this season. The key to winning against a top offense, is scoring more than them and getting some stops on defense. I believe in the defense, but the offense will need to take a major step if they look to win and move on in the playoffs. </li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">My Prediction</h2>   <p>When it comes to the playoffs and the Catholic League, there is always a shot. In this game, I just don't see it. This Friars squad, is too good and should pick up a multi score win, but I won't be shocked if this game is closer then it should be. Give me St. Anthony's 35-21. </p>

Class AAA of the NYCHSFL kicks off the playoffs this weekend, with an 8 team bracket. Catholic AAA, holds six teams, with Iona Prep, Monsignor Farrell, Archbishop Stepinac, Chaminade, St. Anthony's, and Cardinal Hayes all making the playoffs. The top two seeds, Iona Prep, and Monsignor Farrell earn first round bye's, leaving us with only two games this week, as all six teams, look to claim the NYCHSFL AAA Crown.